"The Flintstone Flyer" is the first episode of the first season of the original series, The Flintstones. It premiered and aired on September 30, 1960.
Synopsis[]
Fred wants to use Barney's newest invention to be able to go bowling while their wives are out at the opera.
Plot[]
It's Sunday and Fred Flintstone wants to spend the day relaxing but is disturbed by the noises being made by his next-door neighbor Barney Rubble, who is playing golf at first and then inventing a prehistoric helicopter. Fred is doubtful that the machine will fly until Barney proves him wrong. When Fred tries to fly it, he ends up falling off a cliff because of his weight. Despite being injured, Fred is still determined to take part in the Bowling Championships that evening but discovers from his wife, Wilma, that they are going to the opera with Barney and his wife Betty that night but Fred devises a plan. That night, just as the Flintstones and the Rubbles are leaving, Fred suddenly goes into "a state of shock" supposedly from Fred's crash. Barney offers to stay and look after Fred while Wilma and Betty go to the opera. Once the women are gone, Fred and Barney sneak off to the bowling alley on Barney's helicopter which Barney has fixed and made stronger than before in order to carry the extra weight (namely Fred and the bowling balls, provided Fred flap his arms while Barney pedals). While Fred and Barney are bowling, Wilma and Betty are enjoying the opera. Once the break comes, Wilma and Betty decide to ring Fred and Barney. They find a phone in the bowling alley, which is just across the street from the theater. Wilma rings the home number but when nobody answers, she gets worried. Betty then spots Fred and Barney. Realizing they've been spotted, Fred and Barney each don a fake mustache using bristles from a broom and succeed in fooling their wives, who decide to head home but Wilma and Betty are suspicious. Fred and Barney manage to reach the house before Wilma and Betty who look into the bedroom and see Barney reading to Fred. Fred thinks he and Barney have gotten away with their little scheme but when Barney turns to face the wives, he forgets to take off his fake mustache. Wilma and Betty, realizing they've been tricked, start to attack their husbands, off-screen, even though objects are seen being tossed out of the window. Fred and Barney run for their lives and take off on the copter. Some hours later, Wilma and Betty are seen playing a card game with Fred and Barney still up in the air but not for much longer as Barney is getting tired.
Characters[]
- Fred Flintstone
- Wilma Flintstone
- Arnold (first appearance)
- Dodgers (mentioned)
- Barney Rubble
- Betty Rubble
- Opera singer (only appearance)
Locations[]
Bedrock[]
- Flintstone home
- Bedrock Bowl (first appearance)
- Opera house
Other[]
- The Rock Market
Objects[]
- Sunday News
- Doorbell
- Bowling Balls
- Fred's hammock
- Golf clubs
- Playing cards
- Pay Stone Phone
Books[]
- Uncle Wiggly
- I was a Teenage Brontosaurus
Food[]
- Stew
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Coco-nut Koola
Animals[]
- Monkeysaurus (as pinsetters)
Vehicles[]
- Flintstone Flyer (first animated appearance)
- Loggin Continental (first appearance)
- Log Scooter
Quotes[]
Cast[]
| Alan Reed | Fred Flintstone |
|---|---|
| Jean Vander Pyl | Wilma Flintstone Arnold |
| Mel Blanc | Barney Rubble |
| Bea Benaderet | Betty Rubble |
Notes/Trivia[]
- This episode is possibly the only time we see Betty without her trademark blue bow in her hair. Instead, she wears a white bone in her hair.
- Although this was the first episode to air, there had already been The Flagstones pilot pitch, which was later incorporated into "The Swimming Pool".
- A human inside the Coconut Koola machine gives Barney a Coconut drink instead of an animal. This was shown before animals would regularly do the work and this ends up being a one time thing.
- Due to the end credits being from one of the later seasons of the show, other animators who weren't involved in some of these episodes are credited. For example here, Jerry Hathcock and Ed Aardal are credited when Carlo Vinci only did the episode's animation.
Allusions[]
- This episode appears to be a variation of Laurel & Hardy's 1931 film Be Big.
| Season 1 of The Flintstones |
|---|
| "The Flagstones" • "The Flintstone Flyer" • "Hot Lips Hannigan" • "The Swimming Pool" • "No Help Wanted" • "The Split Personality" • "The Monster from the Tar Pits" • "The Babysitters" • "At the Races" • "The Engagement Ring" • "Hollyrock, Here I Come" • "The Golf Champion" • "The Sweepstakes Ticket" • "The Drive-In" • "The Prowler" • "The Girls' Night Out" • "Arthur Quarry's Dance Class" • "The Big Bank Robbery" • "The Snorkasaurus Hunter" • "The Hot Piano" • "The Hypnotist" • "Love Letters on the Rocks" • "The Tycoon" • "The Astra' Nuts" • "The Long, Long Weekend" • "In the Dough" • "The Good Scout" • "Rooms for Rent" • "Fred Flintstone: Before and After" |